FY 2019 - GEORGETOWN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ASSOCIATION - Published May 2020 - Georgetown International ...
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GEORGETOWN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ASSOCIATION FY 2019 Published May 2020 Questions or concerns regarding the contents of this report should be addressed via e-mail to ceo@modelun.org
Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
Table of Contents
The Board of Directors, 2020-21 ........................................................................................................... 2
The Board of Directors, 2019-2020 ....................................................................................................... 3
A Message from the CEO...................................................................................................................... 4
Mission Statement and Programming Overview .............................................................................. 5
GIRC-GIRA Relationship ..................................................................................................................... 6
GIRA Programming, FY 2019 ............................................................................................................... 9
FY 2020 Prospectus .............................................................................................................................. 16
Appendix: FY 2019 Financials ........................................................................................................... 22
1Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
The Board of Directors, 2020-21
The Board of Directors of the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc. is composed of dues
paying members of the Georgetown International Relations Club (GIRC, or IRC.) In accordance with the
bylaws of the corporation, they are nominated by the CEO and confirmed by a simple majority of the sitting
Board of Directors, apart from emeriti conference executives and individuals serving by title and appointment
from the CEO.
Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors
Grant Castle, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
Chief Financial Officer Chief Operations Officer
Hojoon Kim Mark Wilcox
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2022 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
External Affairs Officer Chief Global Strategist
Caleb Yip Áine Crinion
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2022
Executive Secretary
Alex White
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
Executive Director, NCSC XLVIII Secretary-General, NCSC XLVIII
Mahek Ahmad William Bartlett
Georgetown College, 2022 Georgetown College, 2022
Executive Director, NAIMUN LVIII Secretary-General, NAMIUN LVIII
Amy Li Alexander Chen
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2022 Georgetown College, 2022
Executive Director Emerita, NCSC XLVII Secretary-General Emeritus, NAIMUN LVII
Raphaelle Hupez Neehar Mahidadia
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021 School of Nursing & Health Studies, 2021
Executive Director Emerita, NAIMUN LVII Chief Global Strategist Emeritus
Alyssa Erin Kardos Siddharth Muchhal
School of Nursing & Health Studies, 2021 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
2Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
The Board of Directors, 2019-2020
The Board of Directors of the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc. is composed of
dues paying members of the Georgetown International Relations Club (GIRC, or IRC.) In
accordance with the bylaws of the corporation, they are nominated by the CEO and confirmed by a
simple majority of the sitting Board of Directors, except for emeriti conference executives and
individuals serving by title and appointment from the CEO.
Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors
Jeremy Cohen
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2020
Chief Financial Officer Chief Operations Officer
Abhinav Saravanan Charlotte Phillips
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021 Georgetown College, 2020
Chief Communications Officer Chief Global Strategist
Henry Westerman Siddharth Muchhal
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
Executive Secretary- Fall Executive Secretary- Spring
Mahek Ahmad Grant Castle
Georgetown College, 2022 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
Executive Director, NCSC XLVII Secretary-General, NCSC XLVII
Raphaelle Hupez Mark Wilcox
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2021
Executive Director, NAIMUN LVII Secretary-General, NAIMUN LVII
Alyssa Erin Kardos Neehar Mahidadia
School of Nursing & Health Studies, 2021 School of Nursing & Health Studies, 2021
Executive Director Emerita, NCSC XLVI Secretary-General Emeritus, NCSC XLVI
Avery League Suraag Srinivas
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2020 Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2020
Executive Director Emerita, NAIMUN LVI Secretary-General Emeritus, NAMIUN LVI
Abigail Nichols Chase Wagers
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2020 Georgetown College, 2020
3Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
A Message from the CEO
Dear Stakeholders,
It has been my pleasure to lead the GIRA Board of Directors for the past year. The 2019-2020 session brought
many opportunities as well as challenges. In the domestic sphere, we enjoyed great successes with NCSC
XLVIII and NAIMUN LVIII. At NCSC, we hosted our most competitive conference in recent years, bringing
hundreds of college students from across the country to compete in a diverse range of committees grounded
in realism in strategy. At NAIMUN, we welcomed high schoolers from around the world for yet another
wonderful conference. We introduced a “Best International Delegation” award to honor those students who
crossed international boundaries to compete and make cross-cultural connections.
We succeeded in reaching higher levels of professionalization in GIRA Global, our organization’s newest arm,
with the formalization of the GIRA Global Secretariat. We continued our partnerships with existing contacts
and opened relationships with new groups like the Lebanese American University. GIRA successfully ran its
third year of programming in Kyrgyzstan, as we continue to engage and promote Model United Nations around
the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new hurdles to our global operations and forced us to
seek creative solutions to ensure that we can fulfill our mission of facilitating meaningful exchanges for young
people.
In the coming year, I have the utmost faith that GIRA’s new CEO, Grant Castle, and the Board will succeed
in overcoming the colossal challenges that lie ahead. The ongoing pandemic poses monumental risks to our
programming, given our mission of bringing together young people to provide educational opportunities. The
incoming board must confront these challenges head on, and seek innovative means by which to pursue our
goals despite potential logistical and financial hardships. The next year is one of great uncertainty as the situation
evolves by the day, yet I have great confidence that GIRA will continue to persevere as it always has. The
organization has always been as strong as the student-volunteers who make it up, and so long as those
individuals continue to demonstrate the exceptional qualities I have seen over the past four years, GIRA will
navigate these challenges with confidence and commitment to our core principals.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Cohen
Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors, 2019-2020
4Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
Mission Statement and Programming Overview
The mission of the Georgetown International Relations Association is to design meaningful exchanges that
inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of leaders in government, business, and international
affairs.
GIRA identifies four key objectives, which correspond to our main programming agendas, in executing that
mission:
Organizing and executing high-quality, interactive diplomatic simulations for both high school and
college students. (NAIMUN and NCSC.)
Offering opportunities for immersion and exchange through cooperation with our international
partners. (Partnerships with Alpha Partners Education, MUN Inc., and the Bilimkana Foundation.)
Helping to fund and promote Georgetown University’s premier club for International Relations.
(The IRC.)
Funding undergraduate and graduate Georgetown University students who wish to pursue projects in
accordance with its mission. (The Global Generations Grant.)
GIRA is constantly seeking ways to grow and improve this programmatic footprint in ways consistent with
our mission.
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
GIRC-GIRA Relationship
Overview
The Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc. has a unique partnership with the Georgetown
International Relations Club (GIRC). The Georgetown International Relations Association (GIRA) consists of
a Board of Directors comprised of students who, according to GIRA by-laws, must be dues paying members
of GIRC. The GIRA Board conducts its weekly meetings in close coordination with the GIRC Board of
Directors and the two Boards collaborate on many projects.
Founded in 1969, GIRA works to serve the students who attend its conferences and, per its mission of
promoting youth education and involvement in international affairs, to provide activities for Georgetown
students interested in international relations. GIRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in
Washington, D.C. and incorporated in Delaware.
Founded in 1929, GIRC is a student organization affiliated with Georgetown University and serves as a forum
for students to participate in a range of activities pertaining to the various aspects of international relations.
GIRA provides the GIRC membership with increased opportunities and means to participate in and promote
international relations education, and GIRC members participate extensively in GIRA programs. GIRA
coordinates and supervises the operation of two Model United Nations conferences that promote international
diplomacy: the National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC) and the North American Invitational Model
United Nations (NAIMUN) conference. Staff members of both conferences must be dues-paying members of
GIRC to participate. The revenue generated from GIRA’s conferences directly contributes to funding GIRC
activities, such as the Conferences Program, the Georgetown Diplomacy and Security Conference (GDISC),
and cultural and special events. These contributions allow GIRC members with demonstrated financial need
to travel and compete in Model UN conferences at other universities, high school students to attend GDISC,
and enable other events that contribute to the GIRC and Georgetown community.
The two organizations maintain a close relationship, and both strive to fulfill the common mission of enhancing
international relations education and understanding. At both the leadership and general membership levels,
GIRC and GIRA are composed of a common community of Georgetown students dedicated to the promotion
of international relations education on campus, in Washington, D.C., and throughout the world.
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
Bulk Allocation System
The Georgetown International Relations Club is the largest single recipient of annual grant funding from the
Georgetown International Relations Association. Each year, GIRA grants GIRC roughly $30,000 dollars to
support key elements of its programming, including cultural events, GDISC, academic events and GIRC’s
premier model United Nations program. To streamline this process, the bulk allocation system was developed
in FY 2010. In FY 2019 GIRA and GIRC held a joint budget summit to comprehensively revise the budgets
of both organizations.
The bulk allocation requires GIRA to grant most its annual funding for GIRC all at once, before the
commencement of the fiscal year. Under this system, GIRC must present a line-item to GIRA, which is then
subject line-item by line-item to discussion, revision, approval or disapproval. The funds are then allocated to
GIRC in bulk; it falls to GIRC to subsequently manage its budget. GIRA is permitted to audit GIRC’s spending
on a quarterly basis.
GIRC may seek additional funding from GIRA or seek to use funding for non-approved line-items within the
existing grant amount, but doing so requires a presentation to GIRA and a vote of two thirds of the Board of
Directors of GIRA. Such an approach is discouraged and only used under extraordinary circumstances.
By consolidating discussion of the outlay to GIRC in one bulk grant, the allocation system allows the outlay to
be viewed from the broadest possible budgetary perspective. It also frees significant bandwidth on GIRA’s
Board of Directors to focus on operational and strategic issues other than GIRC funding during the remainder
of the year.
In FY 19, the bulk allocation system was utilized for the tenth consecutive year.
FY 2019 GIRC Programming
With the support of GIRA funding, the Georgetown International Relations Club (GIRC) scheduled, hosted
and co-sponsored numerous events for members of the Georgetown community. These events ranged from
academic speaker series and intercultural immersion events to alumni networking and professional development
opportunities for university students and educational programs for underprivileged high school students. Each
of these events sought to highlight GIRC and GIRA’s commitment to youth education in international
relations.
NAIMUN and NCSC, GIRA’s flagship conferences once again served as excellent recruitment tools for the
IRC, with scores of new IRC members making their start at one or both conferences. Through an emphasis on
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
substantive and logistical excellence, both Secretariats could ensure incredible experiences for the general staff.
Consequently, many of these staff members have continued to play a part in IRC leadership and will be vital to
the future of the success of the club.
Through its support of GIRC’s operations at Georgetown University, GIRA was also able to play an essential
part in expanding student life for Georgetown students and in increasing opportunities for members of the
larger Georgetown community to engage in international relations dialogue.
Additionally, GIRA’s continued support of Georgetown’s Model United Nations Travel Team continued to
serve as the backbone of the team’s success. While Georgetown University itself remained quite generous in its
funding stream to the International Relations Club, GIRA support was key in ensuring that Georgetown
students could compete at a high level, providing financial support towards hotels, flights, and other necessary
costs. Traveling to locations such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Montreal, Georgetown’s team
maintained its position as one of the premier teams in the country. While the 2019-2020 academic year was
curtailed by the outbreak of COVID-19, the hard work of the Georgetown Model United Nations Travel Team
will ensure its continued success in the future.
8Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
GIRA Programming, FY 2019
NCSC XLVII
The 47th iteration of the National Collegiate Security Conference was a successful showcase of diplomacy,
negotiation, legislative drafting and creativity cementing the conference’s top-tier status on the collegiate Model
UN circuit. For the second, and last, time the conference was held at the DoubleTree Crystal City in Arlington,
VA just a few minutes outside of Washington, DC. From Thursday, October 17 to Sunday, October 20, 2019,
almost 650 delegates competed in 20 committees, marking a 1% decrease in number of delegates compared to
the previous year.
The conference opened with a captivating speech from Her Excellency Roya Rahmani, the first woman
ambassador from Afghanistan to the United States of America. Before serving as ambassador to the US,
Ambassador Rahmani served as ambassador to Singapore and the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN). Drawing upon her experiences as a diplomat, Ambassador Rahmani invited delegates to work
together to solve the issues discussed in their committees and to come up with creative solutions. Opening
Ceremonies also included a presentation by Hillary Robertson Collado, a representative from the Institute of
International Education, one of our generous sponsors, to explain the Boren Awards, a program which offers
students scholarships for long-term intensive foreign language studies abroad.
Sponsorship was particularly successful this year, securing nearly $11,000 -- almost a 250% increase from the
previous year and the largest amount of sponsorship NCSC has collected to date. The Friday morning
marketing and career fair was a tremendous success with six sponsors tabling for their programs including
representatives from Boren Awards, UC San Diego, Jackson Institute at Yale, and SIT Graduate Institute. In
addition to financial sponsorships, for the first time, NCSC partnered with American Airlines to offer all
delegates discounted ticket prices to travel to the conference.
In committee, delegates explored a vast array of topics and times through competitive debates and skillful
politicking. Set in the 1970s, a committee of powerful women demonstrated how gender affected international
security in Europe. In the 2000 US Presidential Election Joint Crisis Committee, the Bush and Gore camps
fought it out until the general election, showcasing the struggles and scheming of politics. The Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty Review Committee of 1995 examined how regulations affect international norms, and the
importance of international consensus on dangerous technology. The Côte D’Ivoirian Cabinet of 2011 looked
at the difficulties of government transitions and how to reconcile past injustices with present society.
Though there was great variety in the committee offerings at NCSC, they all centered around a modern, realistic,
and security-based focus. Engaging with urgent crises helped teach delegates the importance of stepping up to
the challenge and rising to the occasion through the development of creative solutions and collaboration across
groups. As it goes with many struggles throughout history, delegates saw that “the world is waiting,” and they
need to be ready to “launch into action.”
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
Finally, delegation awards were presented to the following universities: Outstanding Small Delegation: Boston
University; Best Small Delegation: University of California, Berkeley; Outstanding Large Delegation: University
of Pennsylvania; Best Large Delegation: University of Chicago.
After a year of tireless preparation, Secretary-General Mark Wilcox and Executive Director Raphy Hupez would
like to thank the senior staff, general staff, delegates and advisors for making NCSC XLVII such a success.
NCSC looks forward to another successful conference in October of 2020.
NAIMUN LVII
Held in February 2020 the fifty-seventh annual North American Invitational Model United Nations exceeded
all expectations and, despite COVID-19 concerns, further solidified the conference’s reputation for excellence.
Led by Secretary-General Neehar Mahidadia and Executive Director Alyssa Kardos, NAIMUN LVII welcomed
delegations from across the country and world for a long weekend of intellectual rigor, high-quality debate,
outstanding programming, and esteemed speakers.
Over 250 Georgetown students came together to provide over 3,000 delegates with stimulating and innovative
committees, ranging from Vladimir Putin’s Cabinet and Huawei Board of Directors to a five-way multinational
coordinated crisis in the National Security Apparatus on the Cuban Missile Crisis. This year, NAIMUN ran a
record-breaking 40 simulations with sizes ranging from as large as 250 delegates to as small at 17.
In committees, NAIMUN was once again able to strike a balance between the growing competitiveness of the
high school Model UN circuit and the conference’s core educational focus. One way this was achieved was by
the introduction of the World Bank Innovator’s Award to reward cutting edge solutions in a General Assembly-
style committee that promoted peace, security and innovation. Awardees were announced during closing
ceremonies by a World Bank representative. NAIMUN also took part in the UNHCR Refugee Challenge,
where the best resolutions from the UNHCR committee will be sent to the agency for evaluation and
consideration by real UN representatives. In addition, NAIMUN also continued a years-long effort to eliminate
instances of dishonest conduct and reformed existing pre-writing, plagiarism and misconduct policies to ensure
that delegates acted in a diplomatic, safe, and respectful manner. NAIMUN also focused on refining the logistics
of the conference for both delegates and advisors by providing detailed staff schedules and procedures, an in-
depth advisor guide that provided explanations for everything NAIMUN-related, and an online mobile
application for reminders and important information.
A key goal of NAIMUN LVII, the increase in international delegations, was honored through the introduction
of the first Best International Delegation Award. This award was given to a delegation outside of the United
States that performed exceptionally in committees despite physical, social, and language barriers. This year,
NAIMUN welcomed 26 delegations from over 20 different countries, a 44% increase in international
delegations from last year, despite the COVID-19 outbreak.
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
Outside of committee, delegates enjoyed the variety of programming provided by NAIMUN. Delegates
attended the signature Hilltop Madness, an event that showcased many Georgetown University performing arts
groups, and the Delegate Dance. New this year was the Game Night which allowed delegates to engage in
video, card, and board games as an alternative to the dance. NAIMUN also welcomed Assistant Director of
the FBI Charles Spencer to speak at the Opening Ceremony. During NAIMUN’s Friday morning
programming, over a thousand delegates attended tours of Washington’s iconic monuments, museums, and
embassies via NAIMUN-provided hop-on/hop-off busing. Finally, NAIMUN continued its record of
philanthropic success. It raised about $20,000 for its charity partner, Drop in the Bucket.
The result was a conference that generated over $80,000 in net profit. This high profit is largely due to increased
registration and stronger merchandise sales; fortunately, we maintained to maintain the total amount given to
NAIMUNAid. Because of the logistic, substantive, and financial successes of NAIMUN LVII, GIRA
anticipates NAIMUN’s continued growth and success.
GIRA GLOBAL
During FY2019, GIRA Global took massive strides towards structural and program development, not only
through institutionalization, but through building new partnerships. Despite the challenges brought on by the
Covid-19 pandemic, the GIRA Global team, led by Chief Global Strategist Siddharth Muchhal, continued
finding ways to achieve GIRA’s mission of designing meaningful exchanges to inspire, educate, and empower.
GIRA Global Secretariat
This year saw the introduction of the GIRA Global Secretariat, a formal team in charge of GIRA Global
(rebranded from ‘International Programming’). The Global Secretariat is led by the Chief Global Strategist, and
consists of two sub-teams, like the NAIMUN and NCSC Secretariat. The Director team (‘Exec Side’), includes
the Director of Marketing, Director of Partnership Development, and Director of Internal Development, and
is responsible for all logistics, branding, and outreach for GIRA Global. The Program Leads (‘Sub Side’) are
each responsible for a specific program and the respective partner relationship. Through this new structure,
GIRA Global has been able to not only streamline program preparation and communication, but also begin
conversations with 40+ like-minded organizations around the world. We look forward to the continued growth
and development of the GIRA Global team.
GIRA Kyrgyzstan
This year, the GIRA Kyrgyzstan program was organized from March 6th-14th, 2020 (during the Georgetown
spring break) instead of the summer, not only better aligning with the Kyrgyzstan school calendar, but building
a foundation for future school year programming. Program Lead Jordon DeGroote led a team of three GIRA
staffers to Kyrgyzstan, where they completed 9 workshops in 7 schools, engaging with over 200 students.
Though the Covid-19 outbreak posed a challenge for hosting a concluding conference, students showcased
11Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.
FY 2019 Corporate Report
their Model UN learnings through an online video challenge. GIRA looks forward to continuing the growth of
this program in partnership with the Bilimkana Foundation.
NAIMUN Southeast Asia (SEA) II and GIRA Singapore Security Simulation (GSSS)
GIRA also continued growing its relationship with MUN Inc. through planning for two summer conferences,
NAIMUN SEA II and GSSS. NAIMUN SEA II would be a NAIMUN-style conference bringing in delegates
from around the Southeast Asia region to discuss some of the worlds’ most pressing issues through General
Assembly and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)-style committees. GSSS, a new program, would be
focused on conducting crisis committee workshops in Singapore schools, and concluding with a two-day Model
UN conference consisting of contemporary and security-based crisis committees. Due to Covid-19
circumstances however, the programs were merged into an online NAIMUN SEA II, hosted in late May,
including both a workshop and conference component, with one-on-one coaching offered between delegates
and GIRA staffers. The NAIMUN SEA II Secretary-General is Áine Crinion and the GSSS Secretary-General
is Suraag Srinivas.
NAIMUN China III
GIRA looks forward to NAIMUN China III, in Chengdu, China, hosted in coordination with our long-standing
partner Alpha Partners Education. Originally planned for July 26th-August 2nd, 2020, the NAIMUN China III
conference would be preceded by Pegasus NAIMUN, a week-long training camp for students to learn about
topics such as International Law and Economics, and skills such as Public Speaking and Document Writing,
taught by GIRA volunteers. These classes turn into committees at NAIMUN China, led by Secretary-General
TJ Mukundan, where students get to practice their substantive knowledge from the classroom and their
leadership and speaking skills in the Model UN format. However, given Covid-19 circumstances, GIRA and
APE will be hosting a virtual version of Pegasus-NAIMUN and NAIMUN China III in late July-early August,
focused on teaching concentration courses through live instruction followed by Model UN sessions of debate.
NCSC Brazil
This year, the GIRA Global team also introduced NCSC Brazil, a program led by Fulbright Scholar and GIRA
alumni Brent Peabody. NCSC Brazil would be GIRA’s first exclusively college-level global program and help
foster an already-growing Latin American Model UN circuit. Hosted in coordination with the Federal
University of Paraiba, NCSC Brazil looks to bring the NCSC’s brand of security and realistic substantive
committees to Latin American delegates, focusing on both regional and global issues However due to Covid-
19, NCSC Brazil is now being planned for the 2021 year instead.
Communications
This year, the communications portfolio worked to further engage the broader Georgetown community and
GIRA’s network of incredible alumni. The Board's decision to financially subsidize initiatives from Students of
Georgetown, Inc. and the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union aimed at providing
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
for students in need during this difficult time represents hopefully the first of many steps that GIRA will
continue to take to increase its integration with students across Georgetown, beyond simply its involvement
with the Georgetown International Relations Club. The new board position of External Affairs Officer, added
via bylaw change in the final weeks of the Board's tenure, will provide a guiding force towards these efforts in
coming years. It will be up to the EAO to ensure that the Board remains committed to engaging with students
across the Georgetown community, while maintaining intentional awareness of GIRA's image within the
community.
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
FY 2019 Financial Review
Dear Stakeholders,
For the fiscal year of 2019, GIRA saw a strong performance across all its programming. While COVID-19 was
a large issue, it only arose in the US primarily after the completion of all major programming. Both NCSC and
NAIMUN performed strongly and beat expectations set at the beginning of the fiscal year. In fact, COVID-19
reduced expenditures for this fiscal year because of the cancellation of the GIRA Global Grant and potentially
other global programming. As a result, GIRA will be making a health profit of roughly $30,000 which should
be helpful to tide us over for the next fiscal year.
Additionally, this year our GIRA Global revenue outpaced our expenses. Because of lower registration than
anticipated for our Southeast Asia programs, MUN Inc decided to pay the full cost of the programming. This
contribution is approximately $9000, $8000 of which we have yet to receive. Additionally, our contract with the
Bilimkana Foundation in Kyrgyzstan was modified so that more expenses would be covered by them, thereby
reducing our total expenditures.
NAIMUN ran at a significant profit of approximately $83,000. NAIMUN Programming overall this year saw
an incredible profit due to the receipt of the various outstanding payments from NAIMUN LVI made this
fiscal year. NCSC programming ran at a loss as anticipated, although that loss was minimized due to the hard
work of the NCSC ED and the rest of the NCSC Secretariat. Due to the cancellation of many GIRC events
during the spring 2020 semester, our GIRC spending decreased significantly, although our budgeted amount
did not change much from FY 18. Operations accounted for ($8,061.05) and the grant accounted for
($10,092.27). Please note that the grant amount is for money awarded in FY 18 but only disbursed in FY 19.
The grant disbursal process has been revamped this year so that money is awarded and disbursed in the same
fiscal year to avoid any confusion.
Furthermore, due to COVID-19, there are still many outstanding payments that need to be received. These
payments have been delayed as various institutions have cash flow issues with regards to the crisis. This situation
is indicative of what is yet to come and issues we may face farther down the road.
Finally, in addition to our programming, the endowment is vital to GIRA’s overall financial health. Up until
mid-February the endowment had grown by roughly $65,000. However, because of the stock market crash due
to COVID-19 our endowment fell significantly but has since bounced back; although, it has not recovered to
the level it was at during the start of the fiscal year. Therefore, I would recommend that the CFO not put more
money in the endowment, especially considering the current situation. Overall, GIRA has had a strong fiscal
year that will be crucial to sustaining us as we move forward to uncertain territory and navigate this crisis.
Sincerely,
Abhi Saravanan
Chief Financial Officer, 2019-2020
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
FY 2019 Operations Review
Dear Stakeholders,
FY 2019 signaled a shift in culture and vision in GIRA. A professionalization of our business filings,
reassessment of the way we serve our membership, and handling the repercussions of COVID-19 characterized
this year. The changes made this year represent part of an ongoing process that future boards will be able to
continue work on.
Working with the CFO, the COO portfolio addressed gaps in our professional licensing and our paperwork
and create new systems to make sure we remain in compliance in all local and federal regulations. Building on
the work of the last COOs, this year I aimed to create a more comprehensive protocol for the processes and
documentation required to remain in compliance. I would advise a future COO to continue the work begun
this year on finding legal counsel for the organization.
Another major component of this year’s work in the COO portfolio was a reckoning with how we can best
serve our members. Based on extensive community feedback and a long fact-finding process GIRC and GIRA
collectively created a new team, staffed by the GIRC Chief of Staff and the GIRA COO, to create and
administer human resources structures.
Finally, COVID-19 interrupted the workings of the COO (among every other part of the organization) in the
spring. Due to concerns surrounding international travel the GIRA Global Generations Grant was
unfortunately but necessarily cancelled for this cycle. It will be the work of the next board to reassess the
situation in the coming year and adjust as needed.
This year saw many necessary changes being made in GIRA, some more obvious than others. Despite this
progress, we cannot stop working to improve our organization’s service of our members, the excellence of our
programs, or our efficiency. I have every confidence that next year’s COO and the rest of the board will
continue this vital work and look forward to seeing their progress. It has been my pleasure to be GIRA’s COO
for this past year.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Phillips
Chief Operations Officers, 2019-2020
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FY 2019 Corporate Report
FY 2020 Prospectus
A Message from the Incoming CEO
Over the past several months, GIRA has faced an unprecedented and difficult situation that will likely continue
to affect our programming for the coming year. With a global situation that limits our abilities to connect
internationally and join in our signature conferences, GIRA will have to find new ways to continue its mission
and serve its constituents. However, this situation reveals that our core principles are as important as ever. We
must work to foster global ties and cooperation and help educate and train the next generation of global leaders
with the skills necessary to address future international crises like the one we are in the midst of today.
Regardless, we are continuing to expand our scope and professional credence through new initiatives such as
the GIRA Academic Journal, the D.C. Model UN Training Program, and the Middle School Model UN
conference. Through difficult times ahead, I am confident that the skill, dedication, and passion of GIRA's
members will enable it to persist and grow for generations to come.
Grant Castle, Chief Executive Officer, 2020-2021
GIRC Prospectus
For the next academic year, a focus on advancing inclusivity, access, and community are top priorities for the
IRC. The IRC consistently hosts high caliber events that draw hundreds of students – ranging from educational
events such from embassy visits and guest lectures to career panels and networking events, in addition to Model
UN related programming. This year, the GIRC Board will be focusing on building a sense of community and
togetherness across these different kinds of events to strengthen cultural cohesion. This will be accomplished
by revamping existing programming, such as mentorship and general membership events, to foster greater
social cohesion among club members, regardless of the extent of their GIRC/GIRA involvement. Additionally,
the Board will be exploring new kinds of events oriented towards the general membership to build a unified
GIRC cultural identity, and integrating the Model UN team and other aspects of GIRC more closely.
An additional focus for this year's GIRC Board will be on continuing to implement policies to cultivate a safe
and welcoming environment for all members in all GIRC spaces. GIRC will continue to work on developing
new training and sensitivity modules, in addition to new kinds of programming, that will seek to redouble
GIRC's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all forms. The GIRC Board plans on a high level of
cooperation with the GIRA Boards during discussion and implementation of new diversity and inclusion
policies due to the interconnected nature of the two organizations. Collaboration between the two boards is
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therefore essential to ensure the effectiveness of new policies, in addition to providing oversight and monitoring
the impact of the new sexual misconduct policies that were formally implemented in the Spring of 2020.
GIRC plans on continuing to grow communication and collaboration with GIRA to strengthen the
transparency and cooperation between the two boards, especially on areas such as misconduct policies,
promoting inclusivity, financial transparency, and engagement with the GIRA/GIRA community. Over the
next year, the GIRC Board will work to ensure that GIRA perspectives are included in decisions that affect our
shared community. The Board will also aim to increase interconnectivity between GIRC and GIRA by
encouraging collaboration between portfolios across the two boards, such as between the GIRA EAO and the
GIRC Directors of Outreach and Academic Programming. GIRC will strive to attain and institutionalize an
even higher level of cooperation compared to previous years, so that both Boards can maximize effectiveness
and continue growing the Georgetown international affairs community.
NCSC XLVIII
The 48th National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC XLVIII) will take place at the Washington Hilton
Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, October 29-November 1, 2020 under the direction of Secretary-General
Will Bartlett and Executive Director Mahek Ahmad. Together they hope to build on the achievements of last
year’s conference.
NCSC is very excited to join its sister conference NAIMUN for its first year at the Washington Hilton in
Dupont Circle. Considering the venue’s prime location and increased meeting space, hotel costs for NCSC will
remain on an upward trajectory for the foreseeable future. While certain prospects have indicated increased
interest in registration, such as the cancellation of the primary competitor conference in the fall, the COVID-
19 pandemic has impacted many businesses, restaurant, and event venues nationwide. Mahek aims to remain
cognizant of and account factors such as decreased sponsorship revenue or flexible entertainment venues into
her financial picture for NCSC this upcoming year. Delegate dues were increased by approximately 5% this
year in accordance with the shift in hotels, which will hopefully result in a positive shift for NCSC’s financial
health. This is an unprecedented situation for both NCSC and GIRA, but the conference executives are
confident that NCSC will continue as planned and maintain the same level of excellence to which its delegates,
staffers, and the GIRA Board of Directors is accustomed.
NCSC will add a new organ this year called Non-Traditionals, which seeks to offer committees that either have
atypical parliamentary procedure or tackle topics that expand the scope of what it means to be modern, realistic,
and security focused. The now six organs have been reshuffled so that Regionals and Non-Traditionals have
three instead of four committees, for a conference wide total of twenty-two. NCSC continues to embrace its
identity as the most substantive conference on the circuit by present committees that explore some of the most
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impactful events of the modern period, 1871 onwards. For the second consecutive year, no rising Sophomores
were hired as Chairs/CMs, indicating healthy upperclassmen involvement, and this year has seen most general
staffers hired before the fall.
After a phenomenal NCSC XLVII, Will and Mahek are confident that NCSC XLVIII will experience growth
while maintaining the commitment to providing delegates with a premier Model UN experience that does not
sacrifice academic rigor in its pursuit of the highest levels of competition.
NAIMUN LVIII
NAIMUN LVIII is set to take place from February 11th-14th, 2021 in the Washington Hilton hotel.
Preparations for NAIMUN LVIII started in the spring after the conclusion of NAIMUN LVII, and the
conference structure was formalized at the beginning of the summer. Secretary-General Alexander Chen and
Executive Director Amy Li are excited to uphold the tradition of excellence NAIMUN is known for by
providing delegates with forums for substantively challenging debate, accessibly exploring the greater
Washington, D.C. area, and exciting opportunities to grow into global thinkers who give back to their
communities. Substantively speaking, Alex and Amy see three primary goals for NAIMUN LVIII: improved
conference experience, increased accessibility, and expanded international support.
The first is conference experience: we want to ensure that NAIMUN continues to be more than just a Model
United Nations conference. At its core, it is a comprehensive learning experience for delegates. This year we
are expanding to an unprecedented 41 committees housed within six organs. One of the most notable changes
we’ve made is refreshing our traditional organ structure. For NAIMUN LVIII, we’re excited to introduce the
Historical Crisis, Contemporary Crisis, and Non-Traditionals organs, which will accompany the existing
General Assemblies, Economic & Social Councils, and National Security Apparatus organs. This organ
restructuring separates committees by size and type, which will give delegates and advisors a clearer
understanding of what to expect going into conference weekend. To further aid with conference preparations,
we also plan to further develop our Model UN Toolbox by producing instructional video content through
which delegates can learn more about parliamentary procedure in lessons taught by our very own NAIMUN
LVIII Secretariat. We hope these changes provide delegates and advisors with a smooth and enjoyable
conference weekend.
The second is accessibility: we strive to make NAIMUN more accessible to all delegates and advisors. Our
financial aid currently is one of the most robust on the circuit and we’re looking to expand NAIMUNAid going
into next year. We will also further develop our fundraising guide to better support schools looking to attend
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NAIMUN. During the conference, we will continue to offer free transportation to Friday morning
programming, as well as circulating busses, so that financial costs aren’t prohibiting any attendee from taking
advantage of the historic sites Washington D.C. has to offer. NAIMUN should be an opportunity to learn and
grow and economic status should never be a barrier to having an educational, fun experience. It is our hope
that improving the financial accessibility of NAIMUN will allow even more schools to partake in this
educational opportunity.
The third is expanding internationally: we are very excited to continue expanding our conference internationally
and to continue to draw more delegates from all corners of the globe. This year, we want to focus on better
supporting our international delegates through the introduction of translated resources and video content
within our Model UN Toolbox. We also hope to expand social opportunities for international delegates through
the International Delegate Reception, where delegates can meet and mingle with their peers from over 20
different countries. We would also like to continue recognizing exceptional international delegations with the
Best International Delegation Award. This award, given out during closing ceremonies, will recognize an
international delegation that has excelled in debate, diplomacy and leadership throughout the weekend
alongside some of the best Model UN teams in the world.
GIRA Global
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become clearer than ever that education must empower students
towards building a globally minded perspective. Despite the challenges that this pandemic brings, not only to
our lives but the lives of students we serve, GIRA Global looks forward to organizing creative programming
and fostering meaningful partnerships that can better achieve our mission of “designing meaningful exchange
to inspire, educate, and empower.”
Following up on the successes of this year and the lessons we learned, we will continue to work to expand our
programming thoughtfully. Depending on how events unfold in the next year we may investigate creating more
online-based programming. Finally, with the creation of the External Affairs portfolio, GIRA Global is
committed to working thoughtfully across portfolios in serving GIRA’s mission.
External Affairs
With the creation of the new External Affairs position, GIRA aims to expand its presence into the DC
community. GIRA recognizes that high schools in the DC area have a strong interest in Model UN, but may
not have the resources or expertise to sustain a Model UN club. The EAO plans to capitalize on GIRA’s
experienced staffers and Model UN resources to produce online curriculums and video tutorials that can help
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strengthen the capacities and longevity of fledgling high school Model UN clubs. In its inaugural year, the EAO
will work closely with the CGS and conference Executives to create more intimate relationships with local high
schools and institutionalize the EAO portfolio.
The establishment of an EAO Secretariat will also enable GIRA to conduct vigorous outreach to DC partners
and establish a relationship with like-minded groups in the area. In addition, the EAO recognizes that financial
costs of Model UN are a major factor in prohibiting growth for some Model UN clubs, and aims to prioritize
Title I schools that can benefit most from GIRA funding. With lingering uncertainties regarding COVID-19,
the EAO sees an opportunity to provide support to Model UN clubs at a critical time while advancing GIRA’s
mission to educate and empower the next generation.
Financials
With COVID-19 presenting an ever increasing and unpredictable threat, we will potentially face many issues
this year financially. The profit made in FY 19 will be beneficial in case any emergency payments need to be
made and to avoid cash flow issues. With regards to planning, we are hoping for the best but preparing for the
worst. Additionally, with NCSC moving to a new hotel we were already expecting an increase in expenditures.
As of right now, it appears that NCSC will be able to proceed as planned but could potentially have much lower
registration than anticipated. The impact on NAIMUN will hopefully be small and once again will most likely
affect registration as school districts may have less funds to spend on extracurricular activities such as Model
UN due to emergency spending now.
Also because of COVID-19, GIRA will most likely face various cash flow issues as payments get delayed. We
are already seeing some schools and vendors having to push payments from the current fiscal year to the next
one and many schools registering for NCSC are also asking for payment extensions. The CFO will play a crucial
role in the upcoming year to monitor our cash flow.
The Board hopes to continually reevaluate and review our long-term financial planning each year to ensure
GIRA’s fiscal health and stability as well as plan for new challenges and opportunities that may arise. We are,
however, as confident as ever that the organization is in very good hands as we navigate this difficult and
uncertain situation.
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Operations
The operations portfolio enters the 2020-2021 with two new substantial jobs. The first of these, working with
the CEO on the creation of the GIRA Journal, remains in flux. It will be incumbent on the COO to work with
other portfolios, including the CGS and the EAO, to make sure that members’ works are effectively collected
and published. The second portfolio, dealing with misconduct within the organization, is largely defined.
However, it will be up to the new COO to make sure that the resources and processes created last year remain
in use and, most importantly, are readily accessible by our membership. With the cancellation of the FY19
GIRA Global Generations Grant due to COVID-19, it will be the responsibility of the COO to reevaluate how
the grant is administered and what best practices will be in the future to make sure the grant best serves GIRA’s
mission and membership. This year represents an exciting opportunity to adjust the portfolio and make it more
responsive to members’ needs.
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Appendix: FY 2019 Financials
This appendix contains charts and figures summarizing the fiscal year 2019 performance of the
Georgetown International Relations Association (GIRA), Inc.
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